Molded shoe and method of making the same



May 19, 1936.

IIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllll lllllll E. A. CORBIN, JR

MOLDED SHOE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 17, 1934 Patented May 19, 1936 MOLDED SHOE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME `Elbert Corbin, Jr., Gradyville, Pa., assignor of Vone-half to William C. Biddle; Lansdowne, Pa.

' Application February 17, 1934, Serial No. 711,638

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful molded shoe and method of making the same, and it relates more particularly to a one-piece shoeall the parts of which are formed integrally and which is flexible, comfortable, durable, waterproof and inexp-ensive to produce.

My invention still further relates to a molded shoe the body of which is thoroughly impregnated with any desired color to simulate conventional tanning, and at the same time tc prevent the scarring or blemishing of the shoe during actualuse or Wear due to accidents which damage the lupper outer surfaces of the shoe.

Myinv'ention still further relates to a novel method vof Amaking a molded shoe which is very inexpensive and which lends itself to large scale production. .i

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view illustrating the method of making my novel shoe.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary sectional view of the left hand portion of Fig. l, illustrating the manner of assembling and dismantling the mold used in carrying out my invention.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a shoe formed according to my novel method.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts, I designates an outer integral mold of any desired size and style, which is adapted to receive a core of a corresponding size and style, all according to the size and style of the shoe to be formed. The outer mold I is provided with a well 2 which is shaped according to desired shape of the heel of the shoe. The well 2 is provided with an opening 3 through which the material of which the shoe is to be molded may be introduced by any pressure feed device (not shown) Coacting with the outer mold I is an inner sectional core preferably formed of the sections 5, 6, and I, which are assembled together by the dovetailed arrangement best seen in Fig. 3, it being understood the number of sections of the mold and the manner of their assembly can be varied without departing from the scope of my invention. In the present instance, the central section 6, having a male or female dovetail connection is permanently and rigidly secured to the upright 8, which in turn is suitably secured to the work bench or other support 9. The upright 8 rigidly carries the horizontal plate or platform I I which is adapted to be engaged near its edge by the clamps I2 which are pivoted to the mold at I3.

The platform II also carries the gasketed closure I4 which serves a purpose yhereinafter set forth;- Inadditio-n to the foregoing I prefer to use one or more slide latches Il which may be carried by the section 6 and which may engage lugs I8 on the sections 5 and I or vice versa. At the junction of the sole or bottom of the. mold I, with the uppers thereof, I provide the continuous groove 20 which forms Vand predetermines the width of the sole of the finished shoe.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the inner core section 6 is fixed on the upright' and hence Ion the support 9. In order to assemble the mold, the inner sections 5 and 'I of the core areV first inserted into the mold I, and with the mold in an inverted position, it is pressed down over the stationary sections to Wedge the latter between the sections 5 and 'I to produce the dovetailed arrangement shown in Figs. l and 3. When the bottom edges of the sections 5, 6, and I are flush, the latches I1 are applied to secure the three sections of the inner mold in horizontal alignment or registration with each other and with the outer mold I. The clamps I2 then secure the mold I to platform I I, support 8 and work bench or the like 9. Therintegration of the sections 5, 6, and 'I by the dovetailed arrangement shown and by the latches I'I or their equivalent, together with the fastening of the outer mold I by means of the clamps I2 to the support 9, which also carries the upright 8 carrying the inner core, results in accurate centering of the inner core with respect to the outer mold I in all directions. 'I'he space between the Vinner core and outer mold determines the thickness of the uppers of the shoe and can be regulated to suit varying requirements. With the mold completely assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, the material of which the shoe is to be molded is introduced under pressure through the opening 3 and is forced completely to fill the space between the inner core and the outer mold. The gasketed closure I4 serves to close the opening 2| while the mold is in the position shown in Fig. 1, during introduction of the material of which the shoe is to be molded.

In molding my novel shoe I use a suitable form of mascerated cellulose fiber which is admixedV with liquid latex in a proportion calculated to produce a plastic mass of the desired consistency. f3'

1 withY liquid latex and subsequently Withliquid Vbakelite having any desired color. The lliquid lace are punchedas at 22.

Aany desired ornament 23,the inner core or outer mold Ivor Vboth or either could be provided with, Y suitable configurations 24Y which will produce the phenol condensate penetrates through the entire thickness or body Yof the Walls of the shoe andI thoroughly permeates the material so that if the shoe is skinned or scratched the substrate of the fleather of the shoe will have the same color as the upper,V outer surface thereof, `thus avoiding i the blemishes which result when a conventionally tanned shoeleather is scratched. YThe completed shoe after treatment in the liquid phenol congdensate bath is then dried and allowed to cure with or without the use of heat. A tongue is then secured in position, and the holes for the shoe In Yorder to produce ornament 23 upon the nished shoe during the molding operation. While I have Villustrated and described my invention as specifically Vapplied toV the Vformation of an `.integral molded shoe, it is within the Yscope of my invention .to .mold or otherwise Yform the material ,disclosed for the manufacture of otherarticles such` as floor coverings or the like,"since the cellulose fibers treated Yphenol condensate in the manner ydescribed forms'av'ery tough,durablewaterproof and flexible material which could be advantageously used wherever any or all of these characteristics are necessary VorY desirable.

Y Having thus described my invention, .what ,I

'claimt as new. and desire vtosecure by Letters Patent is:

VV1. The method of Amaking a one-piece shoe having an upper, a heel, and a sole, which consists in forcing a mixture of cellulose iiber and '2,040,921V Y Y Y v Y liquid latexinto a closed mold, Vcomprising im'V inner'core and anV outerfcasing, said inner core being so spaced fromV said outer casingY asto provide a relatively narrow space for the formation of the upper of the shoe, a relatively wider space for the formationV of the sole of the shoe, andv a. relatively Vdeeppocket for the formation of the heel of the shoe. Y i i 2. The method of making sa' one-piece shoe having an upper, a heel, 'and a sole, `which cons sists in Yforcing a mixture of cellulose 'lberV andV "liquid latex into a closed mold, comprising anY inner core and an jouter casing, saidY inner core being so spaced from said outer casing as to pro-A videa relativelynarrow space for the formation of the upper of the shoe, a relatively .widerV space for the formation of the sole of the shoe, and a relatively deepjpocket for the formation of the, f Vheel of the shoe, and treating the molded shoe with phenol condensate. Y

3. The method of Ymaking a. .one-piece .shoe

having' an upper, a heel, and a sole, which consists in forcing a mixture Vofcellulose fiber-and liquid latex into a l.closed mold, comprising an inner'core and an outer casing, Vsaid .innerncore being so spaced fromsaid outer casing as to-pro- -Y vide a relatively narrow space for' the formation ofthe upper of the shoe, a relatively wider space for the formation of the sole .of the shoe, and a.

relatively deep pocket for the formation of the i heel of theshoe, and treating the molded shoe before it iscured'with phenol condensate.

4. As an article of manufacture, a one-piece shoe formed of a molded mixture of .cellulose ber and liquid latex and having distinct but Vintegral upper, sole and heel portions.

YELBERT A. CORBIN',V JR. 

